Tuesday 3 May 2011, World Press Freedom Day. Campaign group I’m a Photographer Not a Terrorist (PHNAT) swooped on City Hall in London, notorious for private security restricting and even banning photography in the privately controlled public space.

Around 40 photographers turned up to highlight the problem of private security continually restricting press freedom along the Thames Walk and in other areas across the capital.

The report holds interviews with LPB Chair and PHNAT Co-Founder Jess Hurd, a few choice words from journalist/filmmaker Leah Delfin Borromeo and “A Letter to Boris” from LPB committee member and PHNAT Co-Founder Grant Smith.

Yesterday the European Court of Human Rights rejected the governments appeal to it’s decision in January that ruled Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in breach of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Although the Home Office has said it is still considering how the ruling effects the law and the police will continue to use it. It’s possible that any Stop & Search under s44 since 12th January 2010 will be open to legal challenge, so hang on to any receipts.

Unfortunately there are still a swathe of laws that police use to harass photographers, most notably s43, which is similar to s44 but requires an officer to suspect that you are a terrorist and s76 which makes it illegal to ‘elicit information about a police officer’ which includes photographing them.

In the meantime we’re going back to the place where our campaign started, outside New Scotland Yard. We’ll be gathering at 12 noon, this Sunday 4th July (Independence Day!) Come along and lets celebrate a little more freedom for photographers.

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